UNESCO Heritage tag for Charaideo Maidam in sight now

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: After Bihu and Dhulias made it to the Guinness Book of World Records, the State Government now has its eyes set on the UNESCO World Heritage Site for the inclusion of the Chareideo Maidam.

The State Government feels that the inclusion of the Bihu into the world record book will woo tourists to the state from across the nation and abroad. If the Charaideo Maidam also gets the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag, the state will be an attractive tourist destination for the world. Following a direction in this regard, the State Directorate of Archaeology is working overtime to achieve this goal.

According to a source in the Directorate, activities such as excavation, conservation, beautification, erecting boundary walls, etc., are going on in the Maidam. A team from UNESCO will come from Paris to visit the Charaideo Maidam for an on-the-spot evaluation. Works are afoot to develop the Maidam in accordance with the dossier sent by the state to the UNESCO Headquarters through the Government of India.

At present, excavation by archaeologists is going on in one of the Maidams for evidence of the Ahom era. If the archaeologists find anything worthwhile, they will document that after examinations. The repair of some of the Maidams that have been damaged due to various reasons over the years is also going on. The boundary wall is nearing completion.

A working plan for ten years is also attached to the dossier sent to the UNESCO headquarters. The developmental work is going on according to the working plan. The State Government has already allocated Rs 25 crore for the preservation and development works of the Charaideo Maidams. Effort is on to convince the UNESCO team during its visit that the Maidam is quite in sync with the dossier and the work plan attached to it.

The final decision of the UNESCO on the inclusion of the Charaideo Maidams will be announced in April or May 2024.

Charaideo Maidam, located near Sonari town in the Charaideo district, has an area of 95 hectares. Charaideo was the first permanent capital of the Ahom Kingdom, established by the first Ahom king, Chao Lung Siu-Ka-Pha, in 1253. Even though the capital moved to other places over the 600 years of Ahom rule, Charaideo remained the symbol of Ahom power. The royal maidams (burial grounds) are found exclusively at Charaideo, whereas other maidams are scattered between Jorhat and Dibrugarh towns.